Annual herb to 50 cm tall, glabrous. Stems purplish, much-branched. Leaves pinnate with 7-13 leaflets, glandular. Leaflets lanceolate, to 3 cm long, margins toothed. Capitula solitary, to 5 cm across; summer. Ray florets reddish brown, orange or yellow, often with reddish markings. Achenes 7-8 mm long, hairy. Pappus of several fused scales, 1 or 2 longer than others.

Central America

Lower growing than the African Marigolds, these French Marigolds are often used as edging bedders and are available in a wide range of cultivars and named seed mixes with various habits, flowering times, leaf division, flower colouring (yellow, orange and red) and doubling.

Hybrids between French and African marigolds are also available.

Source: Lawson, L.; Spencer, R. (2002). Dahlia. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 4. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 3. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.